Toy horse



United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 280--1.183 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A riding toy for children in the conguration of a horse, the toy including stationary rear legs and pivotable front legs having wheels which are rotatable in a forwardly direction while the rear legs have wheels freely rotatable forwardly or rearwardly.

This invention relates generally to riding toys for children.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a toy horse which can be propelled forwardly by a motion resembling a galloping movement of the horse legs.

Another object is to provide a toy horse wherein one of the pairs of legs are pivotable; the pivotable legs carrying wheels which are rotatable in one direction only while the other pair of legs are mounted on wheels freely rotatable in both directions.

Yet another object is to provide a toy horse upon which a child may ride.

Other objects are to provide a toy horse which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in `construction, easy to use and ellicient in operation.

These and other objects'will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of one form of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the leg pivot,

FIGURE 3 is a detail of the pivotable leg wheel, and

FIGUR-E 4 is a side view of a modied form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a toy horse according to the present invention wherein there is a simulated horse body 11 comprised of a horse head 12 having dowel handle 13 extending therethrough, the head being mounted upon a platform 14 forming a seat 15 for a child, the platform being mounted stationarily upon rear legs 16 and pivotably upon front legs 17 which are pivotable about pin 18 secured to the body, the legs 17 -being limited in pivotal movement by bars 19 and 20 extending into its pivotal path. The lower end of rear legs 16 are mounted on freely rotatable wheels 21, while front legs 17 are mounted on wheels 22 pivotable n a forwardly direction only by means of spring loaded pawl 23 engaging ratchet wheel 24 affixed securely on shaft 25 to which wheel 22 is also rigidly secured, so to form a wheel assembly 26.

A return tension spring 27 is provided between the front legs and the seat.

In use, a child seated on the device pushes the handle 13 causing front legs 17 to pivot forward while the wheel 22 travels forward along a floor. The child then pulls the handle and causes the spring 27 to draw the rest of the horse forwardly while the wheel 22 remains stationary positioned on the floor.

In a modified construction shown in FIGURE 4, a similar wheel assembly 26 is mounted on rear legs 28, while front legs 29 carry wheels 21 freely rotatable in 'both directions. The rear legs, however, also include angular arms 30 against which a lower end of a vertically slidable seat post 31 abuts. In use, the child may bounce up and down on the seat 32 thus causing rear legs to pivot rearwardly against action of a spring 33, thus throwing the entire horse forwardly about momentarily stationary wheel assembly 26.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a toy horse, a horse configurated body including a head on a forward end of a horizontal platform incorporating a seat at its rear end, a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs, said legs being mounted upon rotatable wheels, one of said pairs of legs being stationarily secured to said platform and the other said pair of legs being pivotably secured therto, said pivotable legs being urged into a return position by a tension spring between said pivotable legs and said platform, wherein said pivotable legs comprise said rear legs having a ratchet mechanism incorporated therewith so to allow forward rotation only thereof, said rear legs having angular extending arms in abutment with a lower end of a freely slidable vertical post extending through said platform and carrying said seat thereupon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,476,915 7/1949 Romero et al. 280-1.182 2,815,218 12/1957 Kahler ZBO- 1.182 2,911,226 11/1959 Grieder 280'1.183

FOREIGN PATENTS 508,057 11/ 1920 France.

561,842 8/1923 France.

597,756 9/ 1925 France. 1,034,165 4/1953 France.

627,011 7/ 1949 Great Britain.

443,097 12/ 1948 Italy.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 280--218 

